Man sentenced to nearly 2 ½ years in Seattle ferry theft; says it was birthday present to self

SEATTLE – A man who told police he took the Victoria Clipper ferry from its Seattle waterfront berth as a birthday present to himself has been sentenced to nearly 2 ½ years in prison.

Samuel McDonough of Preston was able to break the ferry away from the dock on Dec. 1 but didn't know how to operate the vessel, which was spotted drifting in Elliott Bay. The 33-year-old was eventually arrested.